Football fundraiser scores Leeds hospital charity £900

Jonathan Brown

More than £900 has been raised by footballing fundraisers for a charity that supports Leeds Children’s Hospital.

The event was organised by Seacroft resident Gary Pickersgill and friends after they learned of the impact that the Friends of Alfie Martin (FOAM) charity has had on neonatal facilities in Leeds.

Riverside Church FC came up against the Ben Thackeray Rovers in the inaugural charity match which was played at Leeds City College’s Thomas Danby Community Sports Centre, at Sheepscar, on Saturday. Riverside Church FC won the match 3-1.

The group was inspired to raise funds for the charity after one of the players’ sons was cared for using cooling mat equipment that was funded by FOAM while he was in Leeds Children’s Hospital in Leeds General Infirmary’s Clarendon Wing in 2012.

FOAM was set up in 2002 in memory of late Sicklinghall tot Alfie Martin and is run by his mum Fiona, who has led it to raise more than £250,000 for hospital equipment. Visit www.thefriendsofalfiemartin.com.